‘Hanging by a thread’: Priest reveals Bali Nine families’ struggle

A Qld bishop who has supported two of the Bali Nine since their imprisonment says the ordeal has taken a toll on the men and their families, and hopes they can find peace.

A Queensland bishop who has helped support two of the Bali Nine and their families since their imprisonment in Indonesia almost 20 years ago says he hopes the Australian community can show compassion and help them restart their lives.

Townsville Bishop Timothy Harris said the ordeal had been “an extraordinarily traumatic time not only for them but also for their families.’’

Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen touched down in Darwin on Sunday afternoon after travelling on a commercial flight escorted by Australian embassy officials from Indonesia.

He said the men have done their time, but urged Australians to remember ‘the journey has just begun’ following their return on Sunday afternoon, after arriving back in Australian on a Jetstar flight into Darwin.

Bishop Harris has supported two of the Bali Nine members, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj, and their families from the very beginning when they were first sentenced for drug trafficking charges right up until their release after spending 19 years behind bars.

Bishop Timothy Harris has been helping the families of Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj, as they were parishioners and both Rush and Czugaj went to local Catholic schools.

“It all started back in 2005, I was parish priest of Corinda Graceville Parish in the western suburbs of Brisbane. I was there for 14 years and I was on holidays actually in 2005, when the news of the Bali Nine came out,” he said.

“I heard of it for the first time on the news like everybody else.”

Bishop Harris said upon hearing the names and areas the members were from he realised two of the families were from his local area.

After making a few phone calls he discovered both Mr Rush and Mr Czugaj had attended the parish’s two Catholic schools, one at each and the families had attended the parish.

“That was my in and I was simply being a pastor, trying to reach out the families, which I did,” he said.

The families took up the invitation and began a close relationship with Bishop Harris, particularly the Rush family who he says he remains close to.

Bali Nine members Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens, and Michael Czugaj. Picture: Supplied

Shortly after their incarceration Bishop Harris along with Rush and Czugaj’s parents and a parishioner went to Bali to visit the men for one night.

“I spent, I think, about four hours just sitting down talking. There were no chairs, we were sitting on the floor. Things were pretty grim and we talked. I showed empathy,” he said.

Having spent many years in an Indonesian jail, Bishop Harris said he is hopeful they are able to work on their mental and physical health since returning to Australia.

“The pressure of the environment of their incarceration would have taken it’s toll on their bodies, it has,” he said.

When asked if he had kept faith that the men would be released, Bishop Harris said he remained hopeful he would see them again.

“I saw a picture of Scott recently on the news, yesterday or this morning, and I was actually shocked,” he said.

“He was this young eighteen, nineteen year old, full of life, fresh faced, disturbed. When I went to Bali and I went to the prison I saw him, I was there. Physically he looks different. I am hoping internally and spiritually that he is in a different space.”

“The man nearly lost his life, he went from life to death to life. The man has been hanging by a thread.”

Vicki Czugaj, the mother of Michael Czugaj has declined requests to speak about Michael’s release. FILE PHOTO

With the men now back in Australia, Bishop Harris said he was hopeful they would be able to get back on the road to a normal life.

“It’s a long, long time to be away from your family and your country and now they've come back I’m not even so sure they know the country they left. I don’t think they’ve got a clue.

“Twenty years away, it’s like coming to a foreign country again,” he said.

“I can’t really imagine what’s going on in their minds except to say I think they would be traumatised even coming back to the country they left because it’s all changed.”

Bishop Harris said he has been in contact with the Rush family, since Scott’s return to Australia on Sunday afternoon, saying they are ‘elated that their son is back’.

The parents of Scott Rush who is one of the Bali nine at their home in Brisbane. Picture, John Gass

“The thing that worries them is how are we going to receive Scott again. They are going to have to adapt too. How do you bring your son or daughter back into your family when all that stuff has gone on? The journey has just begun.”

The men’s arrest and jail sentence has long been a point of contention for many Australians, but Bishop Harris said they should be embraced and encouraged to rejoin society.

“No one is condoning what they did, I don’t,” he said.

“They have learnt a very hard lesson. It’s up to the Australian community now to embrace them and help them get back on their feet.

“Young people haven’t got their lives together, even adults haven’t. This is a journey of life for all of us.”

Stephen Czugaj (left) and Lee Rush, fathers of the "Bali Nine" Michael Czugaj and Scott Rush, at Denpasar Court where Scott Rush was sentenced to life imprisonment for heroin trafficking in Denpasar, Bali, Monday, Feb. 13, 2006. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

WHAT YOU SAID

Wendy Pattison

I approve of their release. These poor men have gone through hell in the past 20 years. Yes they were guilty, but they were young and naive. I hope they get the proper medical and mental care they need. The relief for their families would be unbelievable.

Ray Dawn

They have done the time, however if they had not been caught, can you imagine the amount of people who could have died from the drugs they brought home. They will have a long road to be able to come back into society with a lot of mental issues for a long time. Perhaps they need to volunteer to talk to young ones at school to talk about the experience and this might scare enough young ones not to use drugs.

Reggie Beard

What dodgy deal was made for it to happen in the first place?

 Gary BellThey have done 19 years in an Indonesian jail. These drug advocates living in their perfect world wouldn’t last 5 minutes in an Asian jail. They have done their time so drug advocates do something about the chronic drug problem in your own backyard, Australia. So far you have failed miserably.

Lyn YoungI look at it this way, if that was my child, I would have done whatever possible, pay whatever possible to bring that back. I’m hoping that they will turn out to be good people

Julie FarringtonThey have paid their price of 19 years in an Asian jail system which is not a walk in the park like ours in Australia and I hope they continue their lives doing good for society.

 Maclagan Keith PaulineMixed feelings because in Australia for same crime they would have been released long ago. But also they knew better and we need to make more examples to discourage such behaviour! Having had a past work/volunteer type lifestyle that had to do with lots of drug & alcohol dealers = they never care about how many other fellow humans including kids are permanently damaged, (financially, physically & mentally) murdered or commit suicide & broken relationships and families! Or children in their lives thinking it is normal behaviour! So although very compassionate again need to add we need stronger laws, punishments & rehabilitation here in Australia!

Gillian Dines

Considering their government let the Bali bombers out of jail, I think these guys have learnt their lesson.

Young Packy

The Australian Government tipped off the Indonesian government they knew they were going get death penalty they knew what was going to happen to them. Then tried saving them from there crime.

Bradley HuntI don’t feel for anyone who thinks they are above the law, but they have done the time and deserve to live out their lives after paying for their mistakes. There are worse people out and about in society that have done much worse.

Nettie Wilson

Did the crime, did the time !!! Let them be free !

Originally published as ‘Hanging by a thread’: Priest reveals Bali Nine families’ struggle